Assignment # 3- Blog Entry # 2- During the Research Process

Often vilified throughout history books and films as the man who stood in opposition to the non-violent tactics fellow Civil Rights activist Martin Luther King , Jr. , Malcolm X tends to be overlooked when studying the great figures of that era. From an early age Malcolm was influenced by the ideas of black segregationist such as Marcus Garvey who advocated a sense of black nationalism. Raised in different regions throughout the Midwest, he witnessed the effects of racism and it's dehumanizing effects as he was made to believe he could never be as successful as white men.




While serving his sentence of seven years Malcolm X became dedicated to his studies. Prison proved to be a place were he could further his education. He was drawn to the Nation of Islam after his brother visited him in prison to discuss how his faith had changed him. For the most part historians agree that Malcolm was probably drawn to the Blue-eyed Devil theory of the white man in part because his father was killed by a white vigilante group for his participation in black activist groups.
Despite claims of reporters throughout the era stating that Malcolm preached violence it must be noted that he he truly advocated self-defense. He tried to instill a sense of pride within Africans Americans . He wanted them to under that they came from a long history of oppressed people and that the cycle would only continue unless they learned their value and fought for their rights.